The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses has been supporting nursing education since 1955.
The 40 & 8 Hardy County Voiture 1623 has awarded $500 scholarships to four nursing students at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, something the organization has been doing for decades.
According to an article on Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s website, Jeff Fraley, director of nursing education at the school, was quoted as saying of the organization and its continued financial help to nursing students, “This has been helping nursing students since World War I. That’s where the need was established. The soldiers were coming back and there were not enough nurses, that’s when the 40 & 8 stepped up and said, ‘You know what, we can help with this.’ It’s a big-time national program, I mean, it’s not just our local 40 & 8, it’s 40 & 8 around the nation.”
The four students who received these checks, Michelle Adkins, Jodee Crites, Crystal Goodwater, and Whitney Simon, have each been scholarship recipients since beginning their journeys at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. This is the fourth and final time they have been awarded by 40 & 8 as they will soon be graduating from the program.
The help they have received from 40 & 8 has been instrumental to their success. Each recipient thanked Warren Kessel and Ken Bransky, the men who served as representatives of 40 & 8 Hardy County Voiture 1623 who presented the checks to the students.
Adkins said, “I have been honored to be one of the recipients of the 40 & 8 scholarship recipients the last 4 semesters. By awarding me this scholarship it has helped lessen the financial burden of me working alongside going to school and raising two children. The 40 & 8 scholarship has helped with my education pursuits with the support of their scholarship. I’m so thankful to receive this scholarship one last time and wanted to thank the 40 & 8 group for their generosity over the past 2 years.”
Goodwater said, “The 40 & 8 was a huge part of this journey. When selected as a recipient of the scholarship I was overjoyed. Now that we are approaching the end of this journey with graduation fast approaching, I am grateful and a little sad this will be the last time these fine gentlemen meet us with our scholarship checks. Their support has made the journey a lot easier. I cannot thank the 40 & 8 enough for believing in me and selecting me as a recipient.”
Alicia Van Meter, who serves as the nursing program director at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, had a personal message to share, thanking the organization for all it has done and continues to do for nursing students, saying, “Your generous scholarship investment doesn’t just fund education; it nurtures the growth of compassionate healers and dedicated caregivers. Your belief in our nursing students is a testament to the impactful journey they are on, and your support ensures that they not only receive knowledge but also carry forward the spirit of empathy and excellence in patient care. Your contribution is a beacon guiding the next generation of healthcare professionals toward brighter and more compassionate futures. Thank you for being a crucial partner in shaping the compassionate heartbeats of our nursing program.”
The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses was created in 1920 following World War I and is open to veterans who were honorably discharged and current members of the Armed Forces who are serving honorably, and only by invitation. It has been supporting nursing education since 1955.
For more information about Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.